Members of the Commission on Education Improvement were told Thursday to create a North Dakota version of Indiana's "Core 40" high school graduation standards.
"The (emphasis on) science and math are what people in the business community are really begging for," said Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo, head of the curriculum and diploma committee that studied the system. "Those (skills) create new wealth in primary sector jobs."
Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, chairman of the commission, said it was time to get feedback on the concept.
"I think this is a great plan," Dalrymple said. "They (Indiana policymakers) have fleshed this out from top to bottom. Every time you have an exception, they have something to cover that."
Indiana's Core 40 system offers:
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- A general diploma equivalent to 40 credits in North Dakota
- A Core 40 diploma in which there is an emphasis on math, science, social studies and foreign languages
- A Core 40 diploma with technical honors, with an emphasis on a career and technical path. It requires 47 credits.
- A Core 40 with academic honors diploma, requiring more math, and classes in languages and fine arts, that is aimed for college-track students. It requires 48 credits.
Flakoll said graduates with better math and science skills will bring more wealth to the state.
"I think there's a lot of interest in the Legislature from our colleagues that they'd like to have some movement on this," Flakoll said.
Jon Martinson, executive director of the North Dakota School Board Association, said the plan is exciting. "I'm absolutely convinced we can do this in North Dakota," he said.
However, others counseled caution. Dakota Draper, president of the North Dakota Education Association, said some teachers in Indiana love the system, while others hate it, saying elective courses such as music and the arts suffer.
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"Do we sacrifice electives to raise (test) scores?" Draper asked.
Other commission members noted that North Dakota's graduation standards will beat out Indiana's in the 2011-12 school year by requiring 48 credits for students to get their diplomas.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
